More than 300 people from Pride organizations all over the world will gather in Pittsburgh, but when they return to organize their local events, the reach of the 32nd Annual InterPride Conference set for Oct. 22 to 26 in Pittsburgh.
“There are millions of people that are influenced by the people that are sitting in that room and it’s powerful to realize the influence of Pride,” says Sue Doster, co-President of InterPride.
The conference will be the first international LGBT conference hosted in Pittsburgh and is meant to help Pride organizations, including Pittsburgh’s Delta Foundation, share information, best practices and strategies to reach as many people as possible with Pride events, says Chris Bryan, director of marketing and development with Delta Foundation and a member of the InterPride executive board.
“We have a really great reputation among all the other Pride groups,” she says. “It’s a great thing for Pittsburgh to be able to show off the city.”
Doster, who has experience with Pride events in New York City and New Jersey, says the conference helps create an environment of passionate people who might tailor certain ideas to their own communities, but each has the same goal in mind.
“In the end we’re all trying to change hearts and minds and Pride is one way to do that,” she says.
AMONG THE SPEAKERS FOR THE CONFERENCE, INCLUDING PROMINENT LOCAL LEADERS, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON WILL FOCUS ON EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY GLOBALLY.
Doster says over her decades in politics, others in her position might have shied away from the community.
“She’s never done that, she’s always all along been a strong supporter and I think that resonates with a lot of people in our larger community,” Doster says.
From discussing the ins-and-outs of non-profit status to how to best encourage volunteerism at Pride events, the speakers bring a wide range of experiences, Doster says.
“I think Pittsburgh has really taken the time to bring in strong speakers and have strong skills building workshops,” she says.
And, since an integral part of any Pride is entertainment, a showcase of potential Pride performers is planned for “Nightmare on Hellsworth” at 7p.m. Oct. 24 on Ellsworth Avenue featuring Neon Hitch. The event is open to the public and tickets are $20.
While the conference is a little more pricey at $399 for the entire four days, Bryan says anyone interested in volunteering in order to attend is encouraged to contact the Delta Foundation.
“We’re just really looking forward to rolling out the red carpet,” Bryan says.
Speakers include:
Hillary Rodham Clinton was the 67th United States Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, serving under President Barack Obama. She was previously a U.S. Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009. Before that, as the wife of President Bill Clinton, she was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. In the 2008 election, Clinton was a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. A fierce advocate for human rights, Clinton decision to formally back same-sex
marriage in 2013 received heaps of praise from the LGBT community.
Michael Kumer is principal of BoardsMTO (Made to Order), a boutique consulting firm helping community benefit boards attain excellence in all areas of governance, including strategic planning, board member recruitment, and effective board structures.
Joan M. Garry has a nonprofit consulting practice focused on crisis management, executive coaching and building strong board and leadership teams. For 10 years, she served as the Executive Director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communications where she focuses on nonprofit media strategy and media advocacy.
Peggy Outon is the founding Executive Director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. She is also the founding Director of the Centers for Effective Nonprofit Management in Austin, Texas, and New Orleans, and the founding Board Chair of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.
Linda Dickerson is the founder and principal of 501(c)(3)2, a full-service, nonprofit management consulting practice. She has spent a long career as a leader in Pittsburgh’s nonprofit and for-profit communities. Her work has included serving as CEO of the National Aviary, principal of the consulting firm Dickerson & Mangus and publisher of Executive Report magazine.
Candi Castleberry-Singleton is the Chief Diversity Officer at UPMC, Pittsburgh’s largest employer. At UPMC, she oversees system-wide employee engagement and social responsibility initiatives involving more than 55,000 employees and the diverse communities served by UPMC. In 2008, she launched the UPMC Center for Inclusion and is a founder of the Dignity & Respect Campaign, a national movement that builds on 30 tips that remind us to be mindful of how we treat others.
